Cleaning Inside Shotgun Shells

[PhillyDetectorist]

Hi, I'm a newbie here. I dug up this Winchester shell a couple weeks ago and would like to clean out that stuff on the inside. It looks/feels like a cross between paper and some kind of fabric or cotton material.

Is there a way to do this? Picking it out isn't very effective, it's really stuck in there. What is that stuff, anyway?

Thanks for your help.

 

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[dr-quest]

You could try boiling it to soften it up, No worries the cap has been fired , not sure if its an old fiber wad,

 

[NOLA_Ken]

The paper is what's left of the shell. soaking it will soften it up and make it easy to get out.

 

[hvacker]

I'd go to a gun shop and buy some cleaning solvent. It might make the brass loose it's color though.

 

[Tejaas]

I soak 'em in room temperature water and then use a machinist scribe... Comes right out nice and clean.

Its essentially wax-impregnated rag paper. Surprisingly resilient, huh?




~Tejaas~

 

[rick67]

I hope you have a lot of time on your hands. If you like to metal detect woods you'll be finding more then enough to keep busy.

 

[GA_Boy]

I hope you have a lot of time on your hands. If you like to metal detect woods you'll be finding more then enough to keep busy.

Reminds me of when I hunted CW relics often. I found as many shotgun and .22 casings as I found three ringers. It was worth it though.
Marvin

 

[hvacker]

Ya, why are we concerned with shot gun brass??It's kinda like clad?? Que' No!!?

 

[Tejaas]

Ya, why are we concerned with shot gun brass??It's kinda like clad?? Que' No!!?

Old headstamps are way better than clad!
I saved all mine that were in great shape, cleaned them, then drilled the top of a handmade cedar table that sits in my gun library... decked the table with flush-set headstamps, then sealed it over with spar urethane.

Kinda like this, but the headstamps look way classier and are more color subdued - not as 'flashy' or gaudy as the pennies.

(I only keep the pre-WW2 headstamps, shoulda mentioned that.)

~Tejaas~

 

[ivan salis]

old paper hull type shotgun shells ... yep

 

[kingskid1611]

Old headstamps are way better than clad!
I saved all mine that were in great shape, cleaned them, then drilled the top of a handmade cedar table that sits in my gun library... decked the table with flush-set headstamps, then sealed it over with spar urethane.

Kinda like this, but the headstamps look way classier and are more color subdued - not as 'flashy' or gaudy as the pennies.

(I only keep the pre-WW2 headstamps, shoulda mentioned that.)

~Tejaas~

Now I am curious and need a picture of that table. Curiosity always gets me.....

 

[Muddyhandz]

I don't take out the wad unless it has deteriorated away and only contains dirt and roots.
Just simply take a tooth brush and scrub under running water until the hard layer of the wad is clean.
It will dry and last for years like that. Should there be a collector market, then I would think they would prefer head stamps with the wads left intact.
For years I threw shitgun shells in the garbage but for some strange reason I'm keeping a few less common ones now.
Part of the relic hunting sickness of keeping more than I should!

 

[PhillyDetectorist]

Thanks for all the input. I think buying solvent will be a good idea, as I soaked it overnight and it didn't budge. It sure is resilient paper. And I save these relics because I like making things out of them.